Idomeneo, ballet music, K. 367

Idomeneo, re di Creta ossia Ilia e Idamante (Idomeneo, King of Crete, or, Ilia and Idamante), K. 366 is an Italian opera by W.A. Mozart. Comissioned by Karl Theodor, Elector of Bavaria, it was premiered in 1781, conducted by Mozart himself (then only 25). The libretto was adapted by Giambattista Varesco from a French text by Antoine Danchet, which had been previously set to music in 1712. It shows clear French influences, while the music remains Italian in style. Idomeneo is considered to be Mozart's first mature opera, and even ... more
Idomeneo, re di Creta ossia Ilia e Idamante (Idomeneo, King of Crete, or, Ilia and Idamante), K. 366 is an Italian opera by W.A. Mozart. Comissioned by Karl Theodor, Elector of Bavaria, it was premiered in 1781, conducted by Mozart himself (then only 25). The libretto was adapted by Giambattista Varesco from a French text by Antoine Danchet, which had been previously set to music in 1712. It shows clear French influences, while the music remains Italian in style. Idomeneo is considered to be Mozart's first mature opera, and even though he demonstrated a mastery of orchestral color, recitatives, and melody, many reviews were made to the score. The work calls for 2 flutes, picollo, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 4 horns, 2 trumpets, 3 trombones, timpani, basso continuo and strings. For the 150th anniversary of the play, the task was given to various composers (including Richard Strauss) to adapt the play to modern tastes, resulting in the Strauss version of Idomeneo.
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